TLDR Castelli, a municipality in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, became the first locality to block online betting sites on municipal networks. Ordinance 4023-E-082/25 was approved by Mayor Francisco Echarren and covers schools, public Wi-Fi, and government offices. The mayor said four out of ten young people have already placed bets using mobile phones, often starting at age 13. The municipality will work with local internet provider Cooperativa CUECCA to enforce the technical restrictions. The move follows a separate law in Misiones province that also restricts gambling ads and access for minors.
Castelli, a municipality in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province, has passed a new rule to block access to online betting websites.
It is the first locality in the country to take this step. The measure applies to all internet networks run by the municipality.
This includes public schools, public Wi-Fi hotspots, and government offices. Anyone using these networks will not be able to reach betting sites.
What the Ordinance Says
The rule is known as Ordinance 4023-E-082/25. It was approved by Mayor Francisco Echarren.
City officials say the goal is to protect young people from problem gambling. The ordinance also calls for awareness campaigns about the risks of gambling for children and teens.
Mayor Echarren linked the decision to a national debate happening in Argentina. Earlier this year, President Javier Milei’s administration introduced a plan aimed at gambling prevention.
Critics of that national plan say it does not fully ban advertising from licensed online gambling companies. Echarren argued that local governments need to act on their own.
He said funding for prevention programs has been reduced at the national level. At the same time, he said the online gambling industry has continued to grow.
“Four out of ten young people have already placed bets using their mobile